http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080515/ap_ ... y_marriage

California's top court overturns gay marriage ban

By LISA LEFF, Associated Press Writer 10 minutes ago

SAN FRANCISCO - In a monumental victory for the gay rights movement, the California Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage Thursday in a ruling that would allow same-sex couples in the nation's biggest state to tie the knot.

Domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage, the justices ruled 4-3 in an opinion written by Chief Justice Ron George.

Outside the courthouse, gay marriage supporters cried and cheered as news spread of the decision.

"Our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation," the court wrote.

The city of San Francisco, two dozen gay and lesbian couples and gay rights groups sued in March 2004 after the court halted San Francisco's monthlong same-sex wedding march.

"Today the California Supreme Court took a giant leap to ensure that everybody — not just in the state of California, but throughout the country — will have equal treatment under the law," said City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who argued the case for San Francisco.

That's fucking awesome.

so i take it that the peoples' vote doesn't really count at all then huh?

14th amendment

14th amendment ftw. Really glad to see the court have more brains than the people.

I may be talking out my ass with that post, but isn't that kind of the reasoning, even if it is the state supreme court? Where are the lawyers at?

yea just keep letting the judges make all of the decisions in this country. silence the opposition while the ones for this get to speak up and fight for what they believe in. it's almost too easy.

So you think it's right that one group gets to marry and another doesn't? Would it be right if gay people couldn't vote as well?

way to jump to conclusions there, orph. not what i was getting at. it's about judges getting to come in to save the day. good for those who gained from the decision today, happy for them. just not sure i like where we're headed with judges making such important decisions for everyone else. but hey, i guess anyone who might think differently than any of you about anything is just 'less intelligent'.

listen, i don't mind if people are gay, just don't shove it in my face with all these marches and gay rights events and kissing in public. i don't want to see it. they're coming into our communities for god's sake!

next thing we know all of our children will be gay, and the human race will die out.

i have alot to learn about the judicial process, i don't pretend otherwise. help me learn and understand without telling me how wrong i am for questioning anything about this.

dude, grow up. one person shows any sort of opinion other than all of yours and you freak out.

none of these comments are directed at you, friend.

Hmmm...

1) given2trade lives in california
2) given2trade has trouble meeting women
3) court overturns gay marriage ban
4)

you're in. literally and figuratively.

my apology, here i thought others were already on the defensive when it was me all along.